Warrant Officer

A warrant officer (WO) is a member of a military organization holding one of a specific group of ranks. In most countries they are effectively senior non-commissioned officers, although technically in a class of their own between NCOs and commissioned officers. In the United States military system, however, officers at the Chief Warrant Officer level are in fact commissioned officers and are afforded the same privileges and courtesies, such as terms of address and salutes, as other commissioned officers.

Canadian Forces

In the Canadian Forces, warrant officers are the senior non-commissioned officer ranks in the Army and Air Force. There are three warrant ranks: Warrant Officer (WO), Master Warrant Officer (MWO), and Chief Warrant Officer (CWO). The rank just below Warrant Officer is Sergeant.

Related Topics:
Canadian Forces - Army - Air Force

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A Warrant Officer is the most senior NCO in a platoon, and holds the position of Platoon Warrant Officer. The rank insignia of a WO is a crown. They are addressed by their juniors as "Warrant."

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Master Warrant Officers wear a crown with laurel leaves around it on the lower sleeve. They are addressed by their juniors as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Appointments held by MWOs include:

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• Battery Sergeant Major (BSM)
• Company Sergeant Major (CSM)
• Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS)
• Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM)

Chief Warrant Officers wear the Canadian coat of arms on the lower sleeve. They are addressed by their juniors as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Appointments held by CWOs include:

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• Drill Sergeant Major (DSM)
• Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM)

Special appointments for Chief Warrant Officers entitles the incumbents to wear an additional badge with the Canadian coat of arms. They are as follows:

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• Base Chief Warrant Officer (BCWO) - the Coat of Arms over crossed crusader swords
• Formation Chief Warrant Officer - the Coat of Arms over the central insignia of the badge of the Canadian Armed Forces (crossed swords, an anchor and an eagle in flight)
• Brigade Sergeant Major (Bde SM) - the Coat of Arms over crossed swords with a maple leaf over the point of intersection
• Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) - the Coat of Arms with a wreath of laurel wrapped around the base
• Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer (CFCWO) - the Coat of Arms with a wreath of twenty-eight maple leaves wrapped around the base and sides

The Navy equivalents are as follows:

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• Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1) = Warrant Officer
• Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (CPO2) = Master Warrant Officer
• Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1) = Chief Warrant Officer
• Base Chief Petty Officer (BCPO) = Base Chief Warrant Officer
• Formation Chief Petty Officer = Formation Chief Warrant Officer
• Fleet Chief Petty Officer (Flt CPO) = Brigade Sergeant Major
• Command Chief Petty Officer (CCPO) = Command Chief Warrant Officer

The title of the highest enlisted position in the Canadian Forces, the Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer, is not, however, ever referred to as "Canadian Forces Chief Petty Officer" if the incumbent is from the Navy.

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